God loves a "try-er"
A few months ago, I was the guest preacher at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany. As I often do as a “traveling minister”, I shared a sermon focused on climate change and environmental injustice, my favorite topics to preach about. The sermon went over well (I love it when I get some hootin’ and hollering!) and the entire service was wonderful, in no small part due to the music director (Olga!!) adding such spectacular and profoundly inspiring music.
At the end of the service during the infamous UU “coffee hour”, two men, who were sitting in the front row during service, came up to chat with me. Turns out that were brothers, from New Zealand, who were my age and had attended Vassar College. We got to talking about Vassar, rock climbing, my sermon, and other things and it was great fun. While we were discussing the monumental task of trying to get people to actually Do Something about the climate crisis—or for starters, just trying to have people seem to care—one of the brothers looked at me and said in his fabulous accent, “You know, we’ve got an expression in New Zealand that I think you’ll like…God Loves a Tryer!”
I didn’t just like it. I love it! Without getting in the weeds over the God language, I just love the sentiment. God—nature, the universe, your highest self, your spiritual compass, whathaveyou—is giving you props for trying. It’s a nice reminder, for me at least, that if we are working towards the world we want to see, if we are at least trying, then that, is a good thing. And it reminded me of a quote from the Talmud that I often share with congregants or students:
Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.
We may not see the work get done, but we must keep on trying.
What I am trying to do these days:
I’m trying to get up every morning and not feel completely overwhelmed and hopeless.
I’m trying not to lose my mind over the impending end of our already fake and failing “democracy”.
I’m trying to remember my call to be a broker of joy and justice.
I’m trying to find the things that help me get out of my head, keep me from feeling the pain of the world too much, remind me to live with courage and love and bring my gifts to my community.
I’m trying to get some rest and enjoy time in my garden with my cat and my husband.
What about you? What are you trying?
We've all got a "secret weapon", i.e. ourselves, our lives, beyond words, and screens of all sorts, that connects us directly with what we want and want to influence. It's either very imaginary or very powerful; perhaps it's both.
I see many of us in our helplessness are trying to burry our heads in the sand .It won't work ,we won't be able to be peaceful ,even not close to it .We are asked to come to a different level of awareness ,a level were All beings are included .This present civilization's so called success depends on the opposite. Being part of this civilization will make those who want to know the truth feel helpless and that is part of the quest. Going along won't work .Radical change must come.